In 1987, their LP Dumb Poet was released in America by A&M Records and the Psychedelic Furs-esque track "Tragic Comedy" was a minor hit on college radio. The band toured with Bob Dylan, Iggy Pop, Simple Minds, the Stranglers, and the Rolling Stones; however, they grew tired of the English music scene in the late '80s and relocated to Spain, where they were superstars.
Give them a try. Yes today's mega-bands are good - but for sheer originality and unpredictability - the "Fools" are hard to beat.
In 1997, the Immaculate Fools broke up after Weatherill departed from the group. Calling himself Dirty Ray, Weatherill abandoned the Immaculate Fools' Celtic touches for gritty blues on his solo debut Primitive. Influenced by John Lee Hooker, Howlin' Wolf, Tom Waits, and Nick Cave, Weatherill recorded the album with Simon Anderson (percussion) and Rainy Moor (electric organ).
The Ship Song
Immaculate Fools Lyrics
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And burn your bridges down
We make a little history, baby
Every time you come around
Come loose your dogs upon me
And let your hair hang down
You are a little mystery to me
We talk about it all night long
We define our moral ground
But when I crawl into your arms
Everything, it comes tumbling down
Come sail your ships around me
And burn your bridges down
We make a little history, baby
Every time you come around
Your face has fallen sad now
For you know the time is nigh
When I must remove your wings
And you, you must try to fly
Come sail your ships around me
And burn your bridges down
We make a little history, baby
Every time you come around
Come loose your dogs upon me
And let your hair hang down
You are a little mystery to me
Every time you come around
The lyrics of Immaculate Fools' song The Ship Song contain a powerful and emotional message about being willing to take risks in love and life. The metaphor of sailing ships and burning bridges down represents the idea of leaving behind old patterns and habits in order to embrace something new and different. The song invites the listener to join the singer on a journey of discovery, where they explore the mystery and beauty of the unknown.
The lines "We talk about it all night long, We define our moral ground" suggests that the singer and their partner have deep conversations about their values and beliefs, but ultimately, it is their physical connection that brings everything "tumbling down". The lyric "When I must remove your wings, And you, you must try to fly" is particularly poignant, as it suggests that the singer is aware that their partner needs to go through a process of growth and transformation in order to truly thrive.
Overall, The Ship Song is a powerful and poignant song, with a universal message that speaks to the heart of the human experience.
Line by Line Meaning
Come sail your ships around me
Join me, come close to me and let our ships sail together
And burn your bridges down
Let's forget our past and focus on our future
We make a little history, baby
Our moments together become a part of our personal history
Every time you come around
Every time we're together, we create something new and memorable
Come loose your dogs upon me
Share your deepest secrets with me, let me see the real you
And let your hair hang down
Relax and be yourself, show me your true personality
You are a little mystery to me
I'm still learning and discovering new things about you
We talk about it all night long
We discuss important topics and try to define our beliefs
We define our moral ground
We set our standards for what is right and wrong
But when I crawl into your arms
When I'm with you, all my defenses come tumbling down
Everything, it comes tumbling down
All of our preconceived notions and barriers disappear when we're together
Your face has fallen sad now
You know that our time together is coming to an end
For you know the time is nigh
The inevitable end of our time together is looming
When I must remove your wings
When I have to let you go and set you free
And you, you must try to fly
You must move forward and face new challenges
Contributed by Christopher C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.